We wait all through the cold, stormy weather to finally get the chance to get outside and enjoy the sun, and then are bombarded not just by the warmth and light, but by all the warnings about skin cancer and skin damage. What’s really happening and what should we do about it? Well, first of all, relax. It’s not all bad news. That timeless adage “moderation in all things” pertains here as it does everywhere else. Earth is habitable by humans and other life forms in large part because of it’s proximity to the sun. It is bathed in an invisible form of solar radiation called ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are three types of UV rays: UVA; UVB; and UVC. UVA is the most abundant at earth’s surface level, and can penetrate below the top layer of skin. UVB rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer, so are less abundant at the surface, and do not penetrate as deeply as UVA. UVB also stimulates the reaction that produces vitamin D, but UVB in excess causes sunburn and cell damage. The most hazardous is UVC, but it is completely absorbed by earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. It’s the main reason we want to keep that ozone layer intact. After years of warning us to stay out of the sun or be covered with UV blocking sunscreen at all times, the medical community now is debating whether too little sun is as bad as too much. Not only does sunshine melt away the winter blues (seasonal affective disorder- SAD), research shows many people are deficient in vitamin D. Ongoing studies indicate the importance of vitamin D in preventing muscle and skeletal pain and a variety of cancers. This vitamin, which we require more of as we age, occurs naturally in salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish, but is difficult to get in high enough doses nutritionally or in supplements. Nonetheless, too much sun has been shown not only to accelerate wrinkles and rough, dry skin through a process called photoaging, but it is directly linked to skin cancer and associated with various eye conditions, including cataracts. So where is the balance? It depends on your location (Canada, say, or Mexico, for instance), age, time of day and year, and skin type. The evidence indicates that exposure when you are young may matter most. Your risk of melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, is greatest if you had too much sun before the age of 20. Adolescence is the most dangerous time to get a sunburn for this reason. While recent exposure to the sun doesn't seem to be a factor in basal cell carcinoma, the commonest and mildest form, cumulative exposure at all ages is strongly associated with the skin growths that are a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common and more severe type. Safe sunning is around 5 to 15 minutes or so a few times a week without sunscreen. The rest of the time wear sunscreen with spf15 or greater UVA and UVB protection, or light, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. You should always remember UV blocking sunglasses and wide brimmed hat. Also try to avoid the most intense sun, from around 10a.m. to 4p.m. in the summer. Skin types I - Always burns, never tans, sensitive to sun II - Burns easily, tans minimally III - Burns moderately, tans gradually to light brown IV - Burns minimally, always tans well to moderate brown V - Rarely burns, tans readily to dark VI - Never burns, deeply pigmented While everyone is at risk with excessive sun exposure, skin types I & II are at the highest risk. For more information, check out the following websites: Benefits of Sun Exposure: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0604d.shtml About Vitamin D: http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/78/95751.htm http://msnbc.msn.com/ID/7875140 For more on skin cancer: The Skin Cancer Foundation, http://www.skincancer.org http://familydoctor.org/159xml http://www.cdc.gov/ChooseYourCover/qanda.htm There is much more information available. Check your favorite search engines. Shipping Information - see Information page. Questions? Contact us anytime by e-mail: info@simmonsnaturals.com or call 707.777.1920 from 9-5 Pacific Time, Monday through Thursday. Rated a **** store. copyright 2000 - 2008 Return to top of page.